Mehlhaff gets kick out of NFL tryout

February 27, 2008|By John Papendick, American News Sports Editor

When Taylor Mehlhaff arrived at the 2008 National Football League Scouting Combine in Indianapolis last week, there was a problem. The NFL people evaluating him didn't have anyone who had any experience holding for a left-footed kicker. “It was kind of a big deal at first because asking someone who has never held for a left-footed kicker before is like asking a right-handed quarterback to go out there and throw left-handed,” said Mehlhaff. Mehlhaff, however, did what he usually does when faced with adversity. The 22-year-old kicked through it. He wowed the NFL scouts, coaches and team officials with his leg by making 14 of 15 field goals. The one he missed was a bad snap and fumbled hold. “You had 15 kicks,” explained Mehlhaff about the process. “You had three kicks at the 30, then three at the 35, the 40, 45 and 50 and you alternated between the hash marks. The kick I missed was from 45 yards. But I was really happy that after I missed, I drilled the other two from the 45 and then all three from the 50. Hopefully, that showed the scouts something about my ability to bounce back from a bad kick.” The scouts also seemed impressed with Mehlhaff's ability to kick so well despite an inexperienced holder. As it turned out, Mehlhaff's holder was North Dakota State punter Mike Dragosavich. The 6-foot-5 adopted North Dakotan from Oak Lawn, Ill., did “a great job” of holding for the native South Dakotan from Aberdeen. “I really give him a lot of credit for the job he did of holding for me,” said Mehlhaff. “I thought he did a good job of punting too at the combine.” Scouts told Mehlhaff that his field goals were higher and farther than his competition. Only four kickers were invited to the prestigious event. The other three kickers were Art Carmody of Louisville, Alexis Serna of Oregon State and Shane Longest of NAIA St. Xavier. The University of Sioux Falls beat St. Xavier of Chicago 49-7 in last season's NAIA quarterfinals. Mehlhaff said he wasn't as pleased with what some consider to be his best asset - his kickoffs. He averaged 62 yards a kick at the combine. When he kicked off for the University of Wisconsin last year, his average was more than 66 yards. “I think I might have been a little too amped up for that part of it,” said Mehlhaff. “I was a little frustrated that they weren't as clean as I wanted them to be. But I was getting 4.4 and 4.5 (seconds) hang time, and people seemed to be impressed with that. Plus, they have four years of film from Wisconsin that show that I can kick balls into the end zone.” NFL medical staff also poked and probed every part of his body along with the other approximate 330 prospects at the combine. “That is a pretty crazy process,” Mehlhaff said. “They X-ray everything and get a complete medical history. Even though I played a lot of different sports in high school, I was able to stay injury free. They also do a bunch of psychological tests on you. It is all pretty intense.” The NFL also administers the 12-minute, 50-question Wonderlic intelligence test on all prospects. A score of 20 indicates average intelligence. Mehlhaff scored a 27. He will graduate in May from Wisconsin with a degree in agricultural business management with a better than 3.0 grade point average. Kickers didn't have to do some of the physical tests at the combine like the bench press. However, Mehlhaff is a big believer in weight training and he chose to take his turn to see how many times he could bench press 225 pounds. He did it 14 times, more than some of the skill players and even more than some of the linemen. “I think it helped me that I was willing to do something like that,” said Mehlhaff. “My agent said there was a buzz around the combine about the kid who can kick and bench press. I think it said something about me as an athlete.” More tryouts for NFL teams might be ahead for Mehlhaff before the April 26-27 NFL Draft. On March 5, Wisconsin will hold its Pro Day where NFL scouts interested in Badger players come to Madison to work them out. All the major Division I teams have a Pro Day. NFL teams also will fly in players they are interested in for private tryouts. Mehlhaff said he got plenty of compliments from all 32 NFL teams at the combine. “But, you never really know what they are really thinking,” he said. “Still, I feel like I put myself in a great position. Now, it is just a waiting game. You just never know. You just have to be patient and take things as they come.” Mehlhaff said whether he gets drafted or not - kickers rarely do - he feels he will get his shot at making an NFL roster. Such an opportunity is all he has ever asked for. News-sports editor John Papendick: (800) 925-4100 or 622-2323 jpapendick@aberdeennews.com